grilled cheese. now i'm cooking everything on the menu. >> this will help me stay out of trouble. >> the core is giving them hope. >> i'm going to be an entrepreneur. >> i'm going to be successful. >> once that light goes on, they're on their way to fly. >> fwheed your help to find more inspiring people. go to cnnheroes.com. thanks for watching. "around the world" starts now. welcome to this special hour. the crisis in syria. we'd like to welcome our viewers in the united states as well as those watching from around thza. >> i'm richard quest. >> this hour the u.s. is

expected to lay out its case to the american people for who is responsible and what should be done about it. >> this hour is crucial because in 30 minutes or so john kerry is scheduled to speak at the state department. of course, we'll bring that to you live. secretary kerry is expected to talk about a declassified intelligence report on syria's suspected chemical weapons attack. it's the document everybody's been waiting for. the report will be released. officials will tell us, it will show the forces carried out that deadly strike. >> there's major movement as well on other fronts. right now on the ground in syria, weapons inspectors are wrapping up their i vest ga investigation. russia will not be taking part of any military action in syria.

anchors covering it from all angles. jill dougherty is at the state department. defense secretary chuck hagel delivered a strong response after the british vote rejecting military action. listen to this. >> every nation has responsibility to make their own decisions. we respect that of any nation. we are continuing to consult with the british as we are with all of our allies and partners. that consultation includes ways forward together on a response to this chemical weapons attack in syria. >> there is no doubt that the british decision not to go along

with any activity has completely changed if you like the way this is viewed. >> a report will reveal it was assad's brother who ordered the chemical attack. if that is true, wolf, wouldn't that qualify add the syrian regime being directly responsible for this attack and possibly be that smoking gun that peek are looking for. >> they are willing going that far and release the audio conversation that may or may not be intercept ed if they're willing to release that audio tape and in the arabic so the whole world could hear him

discussion what the allegation suggest. there was an order to use chemical weapons to kill hundred of fellow syrians and injure thousands of others. they are willing to release it. that will be powerful evidence. i suspect they're not going to release that kind of audio tape. that may speak out those kind of things in a declassified version. what they don't want to do is release anything that could undermine what the intelligence community describes as sources as methods. how the friendly countries in that part of the world collect this kind of information. they don't want to undermine that capability. >> majority of americans are not supporting this strike. this is according to an nbc news poll. 79% of americans want congressional approval of any u.s. action. there's a lot of opposition we're seeing in congress.

do you think secretary kerry coming forward will help sure up support for a possible military move. >> he's not going to get the congressional approval because congress isn't even in session. they're in recess for another week or ten days. t there's no indication that the obama white house is asking them to come back into session. there's no guarantee in the house of representatives they would get a vote of confidence for a strike. there's significant skepticism. let's see how powerful this report they will be leasing. that could influence some of the people out there in congress. right now there's a lot of people saying hold off. >> congress is not in session

until september 9th. they've been active already. some members of congress brie d ed on a white house conference call. congress wants a debate. they want the president to see authorization and they ain't going to get it, are they? >> no, they're not. if the president called back congress, there's the possibilities they would vote against him. i don't think he's very much interested in doing that. i think all of this is so much the overhang from the involvement in iraq. i think there's a feel, not necessarily about whether the united states can prove that assad has these chemical weapons. i think it's pretty clear that they feel very strongly and have established the chain of custody that leads to assad's people. i think the sense in congress is

not so much whether the evidence is there, but the questions in congress really revolve around what is the mission that the united states is trying to accomplish and whether sending some cruise missiles over there would effectively work or whether we would get involved in a quagmire. something that would keep us involved down the road which nobody has the appetite for. the president of the united states doesn't have the appetite for that either. there's a question about whether one thing would lead to the other. >> the president is looking more isolated because of great britain no longer on board and also when you take a look at the u.n., failing to get a resolution for military strike. is the obama administration ready to go alone. is that what we're expecting to hear? >> i don't know whether

secretary kerry will go that far but the administration says that they are prepared. they've made it clear that other countries have to do what they want to do. the united states will do what it thinks is in its own interest. you're likely to hear that type of statement from secretary kerry. he's the person at the beginning of the week was laying out the argument already calling this the attack of moral obscenity and laying the bases for some super bowl type of response and also talk about the efforts for build support. >> let's go to the pentagon where we have barbara starr. the defense secretary chuck hagel has talked about syria. we heard about it a second ago. the u.s. desire to have an international backing.

we need to hear a bit more. >> it is the goal of president obama and our government to whatever decision is taken that it be an international collaboration and effort. >> an international collaboration and effort of whom? >> the secretary said it was a goal. he didn't say it was a necessity. where are we right now? there are still five u.s. navy bar ships off the coast of syria. a target list of less than 50 targets or so. if ordered by the president they could be ready to go quickly. they would be ready to go with commanders and military

equipment. what is the military goal? very limited. deter any of chemical weapons and send a message to the rest of the world that this kind of atrocity will not be tolerated. >> it was a crushing defeat for the prime minister. i want you to listen to how he explained this. >> i believe in a strong response to the use of chemical weapons but i also believe in respecting the will of this house of commons. it's very clear tonight that while the house has not passed a motion, it's clear that the british parliament does not want to see british military action. i get that and the government will act accordingly. >> great britain, are they offering any other kind of

assistance in the united states strikes. >> they are offering any political and diplomatic assistance they can. they'll bring the case to the united nations and making the case against the assad regime, but they will not be helping in any military way. it was a humiliating defeat. there was not enough evidence to justify a military strike and no answers as to what a strike would achieve. those were the two question kes that l questions that lawmakers were hoping to get an answer to. >> george bush is weighing in. he admits this is a tough choice for president obama but he also adds he's been no fan of the syrian president assad. >> i can comment about this. the president's got a tough choice to make. if he decides to use our

military, he'll have the greatest military ever. backing him up. >> what has syria been like for the u.s. in the eight years you served? the feeling they had in supporting the insurgency, there was no doubt about that, am i correct? >> i was not fan of mr. assad. he's an ally of iran. he's made mischief. >> made mischief and for a long time he felt toward america. >> and the president will have to make a tough decision. >> what about the rest of the world saying we're not too sure. we're going to wait for the u.n. you've been through that before. >> the president has to make a tough call. i know you're trying to rope me into the issues of the day. i refuse to be roped in. >> assad making mischief.

another former president weighing in. jimmy carter says the u.s. should not take unilateral action against syria. in statement former president carter said a punitive military response without a u.n. security councilman date or broad support from nato and the arab league would be illegal and unlikely to alter the course of the war. there's more of what we're working on in this hour. the flat out rejection from washington's closest ally. who is left now that britain says it will not take part in military action in syria. we'll take a look at where each country stands on military intervention. we'll bring you live remarks from john kerry this hour. now, would you go? but yt man: 'oh i can't go tonight' woman: 'i can't.' hero : that's what expedia asked me. host: book the flight but you have to go right now. hero: (laughs) and i just go?

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mpls we're getting new video in. it's hard to watch. it's anotherlleged chemical attack in syria. opposition groups are claiming this attack hit civilians.

this happened earlier in the week. >> it appears to show people suffering from burns and it is very difficult to watch. arwa damon joins us live. what does this video show? >> reporter: well, before we start showing that video let's once again stress that these are incredibly difficult and disturbing images to look at. this attack, according to the local coordination committees took place on the 26th of august. the videos were up loaded by opposition activists at the same time on the 26th of august as well. in the videos you see a number of victims with burns covering large portions of their bodies. those burns appear to have creams applied to them by medics on site. there's no other visible external wounds.

a doctor or a woman who identified herself as a doctor appearing in one of these videos saying she believed it have an attack that was chemical in nature although no one knows exactly what it was. a lot of victims in this attack were students. according to one such victim, a young teenage student said they were in math class. they heard an explosion appearing to be a strike that was hitting a building nearby. the student, teachers all ran outside. they could see aircraft overhead. they then decided to run back for cover when all of a sudden she says that they did not hear any sounds but all of a sudden she felt a burning sensation. she said everyone around her was burning. people were burning. they did not know what to do with themselves. another doctor who was also seen treating some of these patients was saying he didn't know

exactly what had taken place and the injuries were way beyond their own chemical abilities. a lot of people burned to such a degree they were unable to save them. other victims sent to turkey. even nor disturbing images showing children around the age of teens on the ground screaming. talking about a burning sensation covering their body imploring the doctors to help them stop the pain. >> it's difficult after looking at those pictures and hearing the description to know what to ask next other than is there any indication of who is responsible? >> reporter: well, according to the testimonies that are coming out in these videos up loaded to youtube and we must caveat that with we cannot verify them.

the victims and doctors are all blaming the regime. the village lies along the aleppo highway. this village has been targeted in the past. nothing like what we saw taking place in this instance. a lot of people wondering why they have to suffer so much. >> thank you. >> 100,000 people killed over a two-year period and now you see something like this. these chemical attacks. after the british parliament voted no to political temilitar. who can the u.s. count on for help? we'll take a look at a map and explain that up next. the media and millions of fans on social media can be a challenge.

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let's put this into context. now the uk is out of military activity. it's made quite clear they won't

be involved. look at the map and determine who is likely to join any activity by the united states. first of all, who can we rule out? russia is against any form of military activity. the uk has now ruled itself out add well. germany. germany's response is typical. yes we're against the chemical weapons attack, but no, they won't be involved in any military activity. we can write out egypt in turmoil. saudi arabia. they might provide money but they wouldn't be. iraq obviously not. iran still waiting to see what's happening there with the new president. you're left with a few countries that could and would become involved. the big one in europe is france. in france president hollande has

said despite the uk, every country is sovereign and france would be in favor of being involved. of course, israel. israel wouldn't get directly involved but as the israeli prime minister said yesterday, if israel was in any shape or form attacked or was involved there wouldn't be the greatest show of force. turkey is taking a lot of refugees from across the border and very much one of those front line countries that would be involved. it's having missiles being lobbed into turkey from syria but again would not be one of those. you see when you actually start to analyze who would be a part

of any coalition of nations that would be militarily involved, the numbers start to become very small indeed. >> i imagine when you take a look at that map the mediterranean sea is important. that's where we have a lot of those carriers. a strike would happen close to those countries you're talking about. >> we know the u.s. has moved its ships into the area. we know the russians are moving ships into the area too. look at this well of instability that exists here. egypt, which has got currently instability as the morsi, anti-morsi protests continue. the entire area is in ferment at the moment. that's the geo political reason why the president is so concerned. >> up next, live remarks from

john kerry. he's expected to talk about a newly declassified intelligence report on syria's chemical weapons attack. you're seeing live pictures there. we'll bring it to you up next. the average fast-food dinner is over $6.50 a meal. this delicious, easy to make kraft dinner from walmart is less than $3.10 a serving.

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that will be here for you now -- and down the road. i have a lifetime of experience. so i know how important that is. welcome back to this special hour on the crisis in sir kra. we'd like to welcome our viewers here as well as around the world. any minute now secretary of state john kerry is expected to tell the american people and the world where the u.s. stands on the suspected chemical weapons attack inside of syria and what the u.s. response should be. >> the secretary of state was scheduled to be around now. it may be a moment or two late which isn't unusual. we'll bring you his comments as and when they happen. kerry is expected to talk about declassified intelligence report

on the chemical attack. officials tell us it will show bashar assad forces carry out the deadly strike. >> there's major movements on other fronts as well. on the ground, u.n. inspectors are wrapping up their investigation. the u.s.'s staunch's ally is telling the united states it's not going to be taking part in any military action inside of syria. >> let's factor all this together. the uk is now out of country. the u.s. is decided what to do next. what's the downside and who would be involved? why would they not be involved in u.s. military action in syria? >> some say it's not a good idea in the wake of long running wars in iraq and afghanistan. matt is a big opponent. he's blogged about it. we saw this video that was so

disturbing, very graphic of people who had burns all over their bodies because of what seemed to be a chemical attack. how do you not do something in. >> it was horrific and heartbreaking to look at that. if anyone's been following the news from syria for the last two years, 100,000 people have been died. it's been awful. no human being can fail to have their heart cry out. what to do about that is another question entirely and also whether seeing a video can tell us were they actually burned by chemical weapons, who deployed them. these are questions we don't have answers for. there's people who said only relevant congressional intelligence committees who are not satisfied with the level of

intelligence to confirm that. >> if you believe what we've heard yesterday, you have ngos as well as intelligence that it aids chemical weapons and it's the assad regime. >> some people on the relevant congressional committees don't think that's an open and shut case and it's the kind of thing you can prove a bit more. go to congress. it's really striking that we're sitting here a day after this kind of remarkable democratic moment in the monarchy where we fought a revolution but we're not going to ask congress whether to authorize war. >> let's be blunt about this. in this scenario what do you want them to do besides go do congress. what would you be in favor of doing? >> what would you be in favor of

doing in hungary in 1956. we can't solve all of the world's problems and we can't do it unilaterally which is a method on which barack obama ran against in 2007 and 2008. it's heartbreaking. it's horrifying. every time you see something happening like that you want to reach through the camera. >> you would throw the doctrine of humane intervention out of window? >> it's a doctrine that doesn't have any basis in international law right now currently. yes. you can't intervene into a sovereign country that's doing who are horrible things to its own citizens. it's very frustrating for anyone who hates to see human tragedy. when you intervene in other people's civil wars, bad things happen. we've seen this within the last 12 years. >> matt, thank you for a robust

discussion. we appreciate it. >> thank you. president obama is making the case for a strike on syria but does he have, as was mentioned, a legal basis to use force? we're going to talk to a lawyer about that very topic when we return.

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we gave you a hint of the legal difficulties in our last interview. the legal justification for the united states to use any force in syria. president obama's call, if it comes for air strikes without breaking any international or domestic laws in the u.s. >> david is joining us. he's a former u.s. state department attorney. we have heard from the president

before justifying the use of force in syria. let's listen. >> we want the assad regime to understand that by using chemical weapons on a large scale against your own people, against women, children, infa s infants, you're not only breaking standards but your creating a place where u.s. national interests are affected. >> the president said assad's actions break international norms. is that enough to justify, legally, using force? >> it's not enough. it's not. the president is essentially making a case that i would call a political case for the use of force. until we're operating in self-defense or we're operating under the authorization of the u.n. security council there's no international law that would support us using force against

syria at this time. >> even in the face of mass killings by internationally prohibited weapons here. are there exceptions? >> there aren't exceptions. this is really a situation where unless you have self-defense or the security council behind you that international law does provide a rule. that's different from saying that senior policy makers from the president and his national security team decide that it's the right thing to do an that given the nature of the attacks that assad has committed that it's something that has to be done. they shouldn't be under the misimpression it's legal and there could be legal consequences to using force in this kind of situation. >> there have been numerous occasions where force has been used to attack another country

where there was no imminent risk of self-defense and if not justified under international norms, it has been accepted. >> that's true. probably the best example of one is that the president and his advisors are studying is the war on kosovo 14 years ago. the russian ws were playing the same game they are today. they were blocking all action in the case of a humanitarian action that was unfolding in kosovo just as they're doing today. the united states along with nato took action in kosovo. this is a difference. the united nations had been condemning violence for quite a

long time. we don't have that same kind of predicate. we don't have the same kind of security council engagement. >> all right. >> you don't have that here. >> let's talk about u.s. law here. congress has the power to declare war but also declares the president the commander in chief. many presidents have skirted congress with military force. there's in examples when you think about grenada in '83. recent bombing campaigns that air strike two years ago in libya. under the war powers act, the president has to informer congress. there are limits to this. what does the president need to do here? it seems like he's saying this will be a limited strike and he's being to go before members of congress and brief them as to

what's about to take place. >> right. this is case perhaps at the exception of the somalia example where we don't have a self-defense excuse and it's widely understood that the president has the authority to use force and protect americans and protect the united states whether it's the territory or american property oversees that that's available. even in those situations the president has to report to congress under the war powers resolution. here we have a completely different situation where there's no real colorable claim that would be acting in self-defense. given that situation and given the authority under the constitution for congress really to be engaged in the war making decisions, it seems that under law he should be getting congressional force. >> thank you. we have to wrap it there. >> up next, live remarks from

john kerry expected to talk about the declassified report. we'll bring that to you. it's 100% real milk that's easy to digest so you can fully enjoy the dairy you love. lactaid®. for 25 years, easy to digest. easy to love.

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like all standardized medicare supplement plans, it could save you thousands in out-of-pocket costs. call now to request your free decision guide. i've been with my doctor for 12 years. now i know i'll be able to stick with him. you'll be able to visit any doctor or hospital that accepts medicare patients. plus, there are no networks, and you never need a referral. see why millions of people have already enrolled in the only medicare supplement insurance plans endorsed by aarp. don't wait. call now. we know that u.n. weapons inspectors have finished their business in syria and will be la leaving the country.

they will be reporting to the u.n. secretary moon on whether or not their best judgment, whether or not chemical weapons were used. >> we're watching live pictures from the state department. we're expecting john kerry to go before the podium and make a statement, perhaps take some questions from reporters but lay out the case from the obama administration on what is taken place inside of syria. what kind of evidence do they have of a chemical weapons attack and what would be the plan tr the united states response. i want to bring in wolf blitzer who is covering the story. >> there's no doubt this will be very important. what the secretary of state says and what kind of intelligence the u.s. is willing to release in trying to generate international support but con

fregs congressional report as well. we expect the secretary to walk out to that microphone momentarily. what are you hearing? >> we're expecting to hear them talk about the intelligence report about the chemical weapons attack that occurred last week in syria. it should be released later today. it will lay out the administration's case. they plooef there's no doubt that the asam regime is responsible for that chemical weapons attack. early y this week it was the secretary of state who made that passionate statement over at the state department talking about how the weapons attack in syria affected him deeply, personally. we'll have to look for those kinds of comments. the secretary was ore here at the white house as the president held another national briefing

with his top advisors. we believe that is over yet. in about an hour and a half from now the president will be making some publicly available comments. they're having a previously scheduled meeting but those comments will be available at that point. we'll wait to see if he comments about syria. >> the secretary of state has an awfully important responsibility. the attack, wu know there was an attack by the syrian regime occurred 9 days ago. since then the obama administration has tried to put together an international cocollision that would support military actions. we know there's no u.n. vote pause of a vush shrussian veto.

the parliament vote against it. congress has been brought into session. there's been a lack of coalition. how embarrassing is this to the obama administration? >> the administration officials i've talked to all along maintain the maintain they never said that. when the president obama last yeek he talked about how international law would require some sort of spinternational co ration. he was asked ant about whether the frej might be in abort. he said i know everybody's on board and that's not the case because of what happened at british parliament yesterday. the french president said he

should be france on board. the syrian leader should be finished for the attack. getting back to that international cooperation, we did start to hear yesterday afternoon, yesterday evening from senior u.s. officials at the white house and within the administration that the president may have to act unilaterally. it will be interesting to see by the end of the day whether or not that's still the case. >> a coalition of one. some of its critics are already dubbing. i'm looking at the transcript.

he said this. if the u.s. goes an attacks another country without a mandate an can't blear evidence presented, there's questions whether sper national law supports et. do we have a coalition to make it work. those are considerings that we ve to take into account. so far he hasn't been able to asheave that. we see what the secretary of state is about to be announce. fred, as far as those u.n. weapons inspectors, they are supposed to leave tomorrow, fly back to new york and brief the u.n. secretary. is that right? >> reporter: we've gotten more details how that will happen.

angela cane will fly back to new york. the actual chief expecter on the ground is going to remain in europe and he's foing to overrook the values of those samples. the latest is they finished now taking samples. they have said they wanted to expedite it. they can expedite to a point but they have to make sure that everything is done the proper way. they also said and i think this is very interesting there's not going to be any preliminary reports. one of the things that happened is the foreign minister of syria called the u.n. secretary general and said any sort of preliminary report would not be accepted by the syrian government. today they were on the ground.

this is very interesting for the first time going to a government installati installation. i've been around that area. talking to soldiers who were in that hospital who were subject to a chemical attack from the rebels. the syrian government said the rebels used chemicals against syrian forces and they wanted the u.n. to check that out. they are planning on heading out on saturday morning. >> we'll see what happens. he wants to words of his press secretary, he wants to give peace a chance to work.

we'll see if that has a huge impact. curious to see what the secretary of state is about to say. what kind of specific allegations that could be backed up? will they release audio tape for example of high rarnking officers. how far will they dpo. this is a serious, serious problem as we await the secretary of state. it's a serious problem because when you release this kind of information, sometimes intelligence officers are concerned it undermines their future capability to collect this information. there's always a delicate line they have to walk. >> that's right. they were saying that over here at the white house. they don't want to jeopardize sources and methods.

this intelligence report will be unclassified. that report is different from the one that went to the intelligence committee chairman in the senate. both of those lawmakers, the white house pointed out yesterday got a difference intelligence briefing. they both concluded that assad's government is responsible for those chemical reps attacked. as you note, two former u.s. presidents weighed in on what's going on. very discreet statement coming from former president george w. bush saying it's a tough decision for the president to

make. he doesn't want to interfere in his decision making process. another statement from the jimny carter center. a punitive response without broad support from nato and the arab league would be illegal under international law. here is the secretary of state. >> president obama has spent many days consuling with congress and talking with leaders around the world about the situation in syria. last night the president asked all of us on his national security team to consult with leaders of congress including the leadership of the congressional national security committees. i asked us to consult about what we know regarding the horrific

kmem cal weapons attack in the damascus suburbs last week. as one who spent three decades in the congress, yng that consultation is the right way for a president to approach a decision of when and how and if to use military force. i believe as president obama does that it is also important to discuss this directly with the american people. that's our responsibility to talk with the citizens that have entrusted us with responsibility for that you are security. that's why this morning's release of our government's unclassified estimate of what

took place in syria is so important. its findings are as clear as they are compelling. i'm not asking you to take my word for it. read for yourself. the evidence from thousands of sources, evidence that's already publicly available and read for yourselves the verdict reached by our intelligence community about the chemical weapons attack, the assad regime inflicted on the opposition and on opposition control or contested neighbors in the damascus suburbs on the early morning of august 21st. our intelligence community has carefully reviewed and re-reviewed information regarding this attack. it's done so more than mindful of the iraq experience.

we will not repeat that moment. we have taken unprecedented steps to declassify and judge for themselves. in order to protect sources and methods, some of what we know will only be released to members of congress and representatives of the american people. that means some things we do know we can't talk about publicly. what do we know that we can talk about? we know the assad regime has the largest chemical weapons program in the entire middle east. we know that the regime has used those weapons multiple times this year. and used them on a smaller scale but